Liverpool SolFed's famous reading group is back, and this time it's a two-parter.

This time, we'll be discussing Principles of Syndicalism by Tom Brown, parts 1-4. You can read it here

Message us for the location, or email us at LiverpoolSolFed@gmail.com

Cardiff, Durham, Hertfordshire, Sheffield... the list of struggling HEIs goes on and on. If anything was clear as this stage, it's that the funding model for Higher Education is simply not working. Like most of capitalist or quasi-capitalist ventures, leaving everything to the market is not only wasteful but is also extremely damaging of workers' livelihoods. Young people and others who wish to embark on a University course are increasingly thinking twice about doing so because of mounting costs, often questionable quality as provision is cut to the bone and a future that is as doubtful as the continuance of some universities in the UK.

Need advice about an issue with your boss or landlord? Want support organising in your workplace or community? Want to talk about anarchism or syndicalism? Want to meet members of the group and find out how SolFed works? Just want to say hi? Then come see us at one of these drop in sessions.

The next session will be on Thursday, August 20th, 19:00 – 20:00, at the London Action Resource Centre (LARC), 62 Fieldgate Street, E1 1ES. We will be in the upstairs rooms. If you can, please bring a donation for the space.

For our twenty-third reading group we will be reading the first half of From Bakunin to Lacan by Saul Newman. From the blurb:

INTRODUCTION

Tom Brown’s “Trade Unionism or Syndicalism” written in 1942 is a clear, to the point, essay explaining the bankruptcy of reformist, bureaucratic trade unions. The unions are a safety valve for the bosses, to control and misdirect workers actions through “representatives”, parliament and the legal system.

The unions, not the rank and file but the hierarchy, are part of capitalism, not wanting to abolish class society and the state, but rather have partnerships and deals with the state and employers! More often, workers find themselves fighting the union officials as much as fighting the employers!

You’ve just made your 300th flat white of the day, you’ve been on your feet for the best part of 9 hours, you’re fucking knackered and a customer has just come back and wants their almond milk ice latte remade. You are a hospitality worker in London.

Hospitality work is often badly paid and tears at your soul having to smile and say thank you to someone who likely makes 5x your wages and doesn’t leave a tip.

With growing inequality it feels especially brutal as with the gentrification of London you often have to serve the very people who are also pushing you out of your neighbourhood and bars, cafes and restaurants are part of their playground as you just try to cover your rent.

WORKPLACE ORGANISER TRAINING

The Solidarity Federation Hospitality Workers Union invites you to attend our organiser training. This training is free and open to anyone who wants to organise in their workplace, not just hospitality workers.

The training will include case studies of past workplace organisation and actions, how to map out your own workplace, role playing through a first meeting with your co-workers, and general tactics and techniques for organising and resisting.

Find out more at: solfed.org.uk/sfhwu email sfhwu@riseup.net

London Action Resource Center 62 Fieldgate Street, London, E1 16S 26th of July 11:00 to 18:00

Liverpool SolFed are hosting a reading group this Sunday, 28th June at 4 o'clock (16:00). We'll be discussing The British General Strike: 1926 by Tom Brown.

You can read it here

And there's a fantastic audio version below

Message us for the location, or email us at LiverpoolSolFed@gmail.com

Need advice about an issue with your boss or landlord? Want support organising in your workplace or community? Want to talk about anarchism or syndicalism? Want to meet members of the group and find out how SolFed works? Just want to say hi? Then come see us at one of these drop in sessions.

The next session will be on Thursday, July 16th, 19:00 – 20:00, at the London Action Resource Centre (LARC), 62 Fieldgate Street, E1 1ES. We will be in the upstairs rooms. If you can, please bring a donation for the space.

This is not a Solidarity Federation event, but might be of interest to anyone looking into what their employer is up to.